Why C-Section Rates Are Rising (And What That Means for Your Birth)

It’s no secret that C-section rates are rising. The World Health Organization has long suggested that C-section rates should not exceed 10–15%, and yet over 30% of births in Canada end in a C-section.

If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, there’s something important you deserve to understand: while C-section rates are increasing, it’s not always because they’re medically necessary.

I am in no way saying C-sections aren’t valuable. They can be life-saving when they’re truly needed. But in today’s maternity system, many women are entering birth on a path that increases their chances of having one, often without realizing it, especially first-time moms.

The reality is, your first birth can shape every birth that comes after it.

Most women don’t walk into birth expecting a C-section, or even expecting an induction. They walk in trusting that their body will know what to do and that the system around them will support that process. Most women, however, were never actually taught how birth works. They don’t always know what normal labour can look like, how long it can take, or how sensitive the process is to environment, pressure, and intervention.

When things are suggested during labour, like speeding things up, adding monitoring, or managing timelines, it can feel routine. Standard. Necessary.

The way our maternity system is set up often prioritizes efficiency, predictability, and risk management. Birth, on the other hand, is physiological, hormonal, and often unpredictable. When those two things don’t align, it’s common for the system to begin guiding the process rather than simply supporting it.

This is often where things start to shift.

An induction might be offered because you’re past a certain date, because of a policy, or simply because it’s what’s typically done. From there, labour can become more intense. Induced contractions are often stronger and more painful than spontaneous ones. Labour becomes more closely managed, with more monitoring and less freedom to move.

This is often how the cascade of interventions begins. One small step can lead to another. Stronger contractions can make coping more difficult, which can lead to an epidural. Epidurals can sometimes slow labour or affect baby’s positioning, which may lead to more monitoring, more time pressure, or concerns about progress. Even after all of that, labour may simply not be fully established or progressing in the way the system expects at that stage. The baby may not be descending into the pelvis yet, and labour may still need more time than is being given. From there, the likelihood of a C-section can continue to increase.

Not every induction leads to a C-section, and not every intervention creates a problem. But when you zoom out, the pattern is there.

C-sections aren’t increasing because women’s bodies don’t know how to give birth. They’re increasing because the system surrounding birth has a powerful influence on how it unfolds.

One thing that often doesn’t fully land until you start hearing people’s stories back-to-back is just how common C-sections have become.

I was recently at a mom’s group where a few new moms were sharing their birth experiences. One story led to another, and before long, everyone was chiming in. In a group of nine women, six had experienced at least one C-section.

Some were planned, some happened after induction, and some followed what they described as a long chain of interventions that eventually led to surgery.

Sitting in that space, I remember thinking - not with judgment toward anyone’s experience - but with a deeper awareness of just how normal this has become.

When you hear “six out of nine,” it stops feeling like a rare medical outcome and starts feeling like a pattern.

It speaks less to individual choice and more to how strongly the maternity system can shape outcomes.

What stood out even more in that conversation was what came next.

As the group kept sharing, the discussion naturally shifted toward what they would do in a future pregnancy. The majority of them said they would likely plan an elective C-section next time.

For some, it was because of how their first birth unfolded. For others, it was because the hospital they delivered at, or would return to, does not support vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC). ‍

Underneath those individual reasons, there was a shared belief that stood out: that VBAC felt more risky, and that a repeat C-section felt like the safer, more predictable choice. ‍

Not in a fearful way, but in a way that seemed very certain. As if that conclusion had already been made for them somewhere along the way.

It was hard not to notice how strongly that belief had taken hold, even though VBAC is, for many women, a safe and evidence-supported option when appropriately supported.

This is where understanding what’s at stake becomes essential. ‍

The biggest risk factor for having a C-section… is having had one before.

Even though vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) is a safe and evidence-supported option for many women, access to it isn’t always straightforward. Some providers don’t offer it. Some hospitals have restrictions. Some women are told it’s too risky, often without being given the full picture. ‍

So instead, repeat C-sections quietly become the default. ‍

This is why avoiding an unnecessary C-section the first time matters so much.

Once surgery becomes part of your birth history, it doesn’t just affect that one experience. It can influence your options, your risks, and even how your future pregnancies are managed. For some women, it can also shape their family planning, especially if they were hoping for multiple children.

One birth has the potential to shape many and most women are never told that going into their first.

When a C-section happens during labour, it’s often described as an emergency.

Sometimes, it truly is - situations like an umbilical cord prolapse or a severe placental abruption require immediate action.

But not all “emergency” C-sections mean there was immediate, life-threatening danger. Many fall into a grey area, where there may have been time to pause, ask questions, try alternatives, or simply wait a little longer. ‍

This isn’t about blaming providers or second-guessing difficult decisions. It’s about understanding that language matters. When everything is framed as urgent, women don’t always realize they may have had options, and that can shape how they process their birth long after it’s over.

A C-section doesn’t just impact the physical experience of birth. ‍

It can impact how you feel about it, too.

Physically, a C-section is a major abdominal surgery. Recovery is typically longer and more complex than a vaginal birth, with increased risks of infection, bleeding, and complications in future pregnancies. With repeat C-sections, those risks continue to build. Scar tissue can form inside the abdomen, making future surgeries more complex and increasing the chance of complications. Organs like the bladder can sometimes become affected or adherent, raising the risk of injury in future procedures. There is also a higher likelihood of placental complications in subsequent pregnancies.

Emotionally, the experience can stay with you in ways that aren’t always talked about. Some women feel completely at peace with their birth. Others are left processing feelings of loss, disconnection, or trauma, particularly if things felt rushed, overwhelming, or out of their control. For some, it’s not just about how the birth ended, but how it felt while it was happening.‍ ‍

That matters. ‍

Your birth experience doesn’t end when your baby is born. ‍

It can shape how you move into postpartum, how you feel in your body, and how you approach future pregnancies. ‍

Even breastfeeding can be impacted. Delays in skin-to-skin, separation from baby, and physical discomfort can all make early feeding more challenging. Those first hours can play an important role in establishing breastfeeding.‍ ‍

In many cases, there can be some separation in those first moments after birth. While some providers and hospitals prioritize immediate skin-to-skin in the operating room, it doesn’t always happen that way. Depending on the situation, your baby may be assessed or cared for nearby while the surgical team completes the procedure, which can take some time. ‍

There can also be an added layer of recovery in those early moments. Medications used during a C-section, combined with the physical effects of surgery, can leave some women feeling drowsy, shaky, or less able to move and respond in the way they expected right away. This doesn’t mean you won’t connect with or care for your baby, but it can change how those first moments look and feel.

For some families, this doesn’t feel significant. For others, those early moments matter deeply. Understanding what your provider and hospital typically do and what options may be available to support immediate contact and feeding can help you feel more prepared and supported if a C-section becomes part of your birth. ‍

None of this is guaranteed, but it is important to understand what’s possible.

For women who have had a C-section, VBAC is often presented as risky or not presented at all. While it’s true that VBAC carries risk, that’s only part of the story.

Uterine rupture is the risk most often discussed, and while it is real, it is also rare. For most women planning a VBAC, the risk is estimated to be around 0.5–1%, or about 1 in 200.

That risk can be slightly higher in certain situations, particularly with induction or augmentation of labour. This is one of the reasons why how a VBAC is managed matters.

What’s often missing from the conversation is that repeat C-sections carry risks as well and those risks don’t stay the same. With each surgery, the likelihood of complications increases. Scar tissue can build, making future surgeries more complex. Organs like the bladder can become involved or more vulnerable to injury. The risk of placental complications in future pregnancies also rises.

So while VBAC is often framed as the “riskier” option, that comparison is rarely presented in full.

Context matters. ‍

When you look at the full picture, VBAC is, for many women, a safe and reasonable option. It often comes with a shorter recovery, fewer surgical risks, and fewer complications in future pregnancies compared to repeat C-sections. ‍

It’s also important to understand that VBAC is not guaranteed. Some women who plan a VBAC will still end up needing a C-section. Having the option to try can make a meaningful difference in both outcomes and experience.

Many women are never given that full comparison.

Instead, they’re left believing that a repeat C-section is the safer, simpler choice. ‍

This isn’t about pushing one type of birth over another. ‍

It’s about making sure you actually get a choice. One that’s based on real information, not fear. ‍

It’s about your recovery, your postpartum experience, your feeding journey, your future pregnancies, and how you feel about all of it when it’s over. ‍

Sometimes, a C-section is exactly what’s needed, but many women are never shown how to reduce their chances of an unnecessary one in the first place, or how to keep their options open moving forward.

When you understand how birth works, and how interventions can influence the process, everything starts to shift. You ask different questions. You make different decisions. You walk into birth feeling informed, not powerless.

If you’re wanting to better understand how to support your body in birth, reduce your chances of unnecessary interventions, and feel confident in your options - including VBAC - this is exactly what you’ll find inside my Fearless Birth Circle.

When you know how birth works, you don’t have to rely on guesswork or fear.

You get to make decisions from a place of clarity.

Join the waitlist for Fearless Birth Circle here to be the first to know when enrollment opens and for exclusive discounts.